Weekly Journal | Issue 6 | October 2012 To contribute for Chhap do please contact journliasm and communicaon department of MUBC A student initiative by the Department of Journalism and Communication @ MUBC Making our mark ! The agitaon by the farmers and other pro-Kannada organisaons against release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu by the Karnataka Government today intensified with agitators blocking Ban- galore-Mysore Highway and affecng train services with dharna demonstra- on for the second day today. More then 200 farmers of Gejjalagere of Maddur taluk in the district have stopped the Mysore-Shiradi Express train by seng on the railway track. Even they brought cale and ed to the track. The agitaon was led by Mrs Sunanda Jayaram, farmers’ leader. Both railway police and police officials rushed to the spot and tried to convince the farmers to clear the track. However, the farmers did not move from the track. Later they were arrested and taken in a bus. At this juncture, a youth tried to commit suicide by climbing a tree protesng against the arrest of the agitang farmers, but villagers brought him down. In a high drama the villagers stopped the bus which was carrying the arrested farmers and got them released. Following the stopping of the Shridi Express train, all the train services between Mysore-Bangalore were affected. Trains coming to Mysore from Bangalore trains were stranded at Maddur Staon. Vehicular movement on Bangalore-Mysore Highway connued to be disrupted with farmers blocking the highway several at places. The blocking of the ever-busy My- sore-Bangalore highway connued since yesterday morning, prevenng vehicular movement. Hundreds of Kannada Rakshana Vedike (Kannada Protecon Forum) acvists out a bike rally from Nelamangala to Mandya protesng against the release of water. Meanwhile, Congress MLAs from Mandya District have also threatened to resign if an amicable soluon to the problem is not found at the earliest. The Janata Dal (secular) also said all its 26 members in the State Assembly had decided to resign. With train services being affected, roads being blocked and uncertainty prevailing over the buses and private vehicles travelling on Malavalli road towards Bangalore, people might have to burn more petrol or diesel to reach Bangalore as they might be forced to take a longer route via K.R. Nagar, Holenarasipur, Chennarayapatna and reach NH 48 (Bangalore-Mangalore Highway) to reach Bangalore. Scores of people, who had come to Mysore and Kodagu from Bangalore for a weekend, had to toil hard to find their way back today as farmers and other organisaons intensified their agitaon against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu by blocking the Mysore-Bangalore highway and also the train’s hea-ding to Bangalore and beyond. Protesters in Gejjalagere in Mandya stopped the Shiridi Express, which leſt for Bangalore early morning from Mysore City Railway Staon. According to sources, the train had not reached Bangalore even by 1145 hrs. This apart, Chamundi Express and passenger train headed towards Bangalore were stopped at Mandya while Mayila- raduthurai Express, Tucorin Express and Rajya Rani Express coming towards Mysore were stopped at Maddur and Shehalli respecvely. Protestors slept on the Railway track overnight at Gejjalagere in Mandya to prevent the movement of trains. Some of the protestors who blocked Bangalore-My- sore highway were seen cooking food on the highway and serving it to protestors. In Mysore acvists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (T.A.Narayan Gowda facon) staged a unique protest by climbing atop the office of the Deputy Commissioner in city and shouted slogans demanding immediate stopping of release of water to TN. They also blocked Mysore-Nanjangud road near Ganapa Ashram for someme, severely affecng vehicular movement. Meanwhile, nearly 200 advocates of city formed a human chain around the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the entrance of the Law Courts complex in city expressing solidarity with the striking farmers. In chamarajanagara pro Kannada acvists staged road block for some me, the ksrtc authories have also cancelled the bus services to Tamil nadu from the town. Similar protests were also held in Bangalore in which some film personalies also joined the agitaon. October 2, 2012, is the birth day of Mahatma Gandhi the great son of India, an apostle of non violence and the conscience keeper of the world. It is around 63 years now since Mahatma Gandhi passed away but his thoughts and philosophy have withstood the test of me and connues to remain as inspiraon to the world community. When Mahatma Gandhi passed away , Einstein said that the future generaon would find it difficult to believe that there was a man like Gandhi who could have lived in this world. Now, the younger generaon realize how truthful were the words of Einstein. Youth of today who have not seen Gandhiji are leſt wondering as to how a person could have been so truthful and honest. The sad fact is that today’s India has failed to live up to his expectaons. One of the cardinal principles of Mahatma Gandhi ,apart from several other great ideas , was that prohibion should be enforced strictly and people should not take liquor. Apart from dehumanizing the man , the liquor habit uproots the families in the lower income group with the earning member friering away his resources in the liquor shop and driving the poor families into despair. On the other hand today , several state governments in India are trying to boost the liquor sale to increase the revenue. Mahatma Gandhi laid great stress on personal honesty and probity not only in public life but also in personal life. Unfortunately, in India polical and ad- ministrave and personal corrupon is widely prevalent and India is now considered as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. It is hard to believe that a country which has adopted Mahatma Gandhi as the father of the naon could deteriorate to this extent. Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast seventeen mes in his life as a method of self purificaon, self punishment and as part of his efforts to restore probity , eliminate violence and religious fanacism. Today, fasng has become a pasme for many people in India with someone fasng in the name of fighng corrupon , someone else fasng demanding wage rise and some one else even fasng for separate state etc. and all such acvies are carried out with polical and ulterior moves. Fasng has become the most misused terminology in India today, which is a great injusce being done to the Gandhian philosophy. What is most tragic is that the democrac form of governance in India which is a highly desirable form of governance, has enabled many dishonest people and criminal elements to get into parliament and legislave assemblies and become ministers on some occasions. Thus law breakers who should be in jail have become the laws makers in quite a few cases. The concerned country men who understand the gravity of the situaon remains as mere spectators without revolng. In such scenario, the bribe culture appears to be becoming be all and end all of life for an average Indian cizen. Now, let us visualize as to how Mahatma Gandhi would have reacted to the present condions in India , if he were alive. Gandhiji would have sacrificed his personal comforts and fought for the cause of probity relentlessly. Above all, he would have been fully honest even in fighng against the corrupt forces and would have used his tool of satyagraha with great elegance and impact on the society. He would have fought for the bale for the truth in the minds and hearts of cizens and would have done his level best to reform the mindset of the individuals , so that fight against corrupon becomes part and parcel of every man’s day today life. Starbucks is will be entering the Indian market as part of a joint venture with Tata Global Beverages. Starbucks’ China and Asia-Pacific President John Culver said the U.S. company will open a store in India’s financial hub Mumbai by the end of October. Culver said the outlet will be “the first Starbucks locaon to feature espresso sourced and roasted locally from India through an agreement with Tata Coffee Limited.” Starbucks and Tata say the inial investment will be roughly $80 million. The 50 – 50 joint venture will be called Tata Starbucks Limited and be run by CEO Avani Saglani Davda. Seale-based coffee chain Starbucks has more than 17,000 stores around the world. Tata Global Beverages is the world’s second-largest tea company. Western-style coffee chains have gained popularity among India’s fast-growing, wealthy middle class. Coffee consumpon among Indians has doubled in the last 10 years. Starbucks will face compeon from established domesc chains like Cafe Coffee Day. It is one of several U.S. retailers looking to cash in on India’s growing appete for Western fast food. PROTESTS CONTINUE IN CAUVERY BASIN DISTRICTS REMEMBERING THE MAHATMA STARBUCKS TO OPEN STORES IN INDIA - by Allen Augusne In the wake of protests, the South West- ern Railway cancelled Shatabdi train from Mysore - by Madhav Drolia - By Anubhav De